Clamping mechanism

Abstract

The drilling of a hole through at least two structural components in alignment with a predrilled hole or marked location in one of the structural components is facilitated by a clamping mechanism that has a bail with two legs. One leg carries a first clamping section with a guide channel for a centering pin or a drill bit. When the centering pin has served its purpose it is removed from the guide channel which then guides the drill bit. The other leg carries a second clamping section opposite the first clamping section. The second clamping section has a pressure bushing drivable by a clamping drive for clamping the second structural component against the first structural component for drilling a hole through all structural components including through a predrilled hole or for simultaneously drilling all structural components at the marked location. The pressure bushing has a hollow free end forming a cavity.

1. A clamping mechanism for clamping at least two structural components to each other, said clamping mechanism comprising a clamping bail forming a clamping opening, a first clamping section ( 9 ) carried by said clamping bail to face across said clamping opening, a second clamping section ( 10 ) carried by said clamping bail to face across said clamping opening in axial alignment with said first clamping section ( 9 ), said axial alignment defining a drilling axis, said first clamping section ( 9 ) comprising a guide element with a guide channel ( 11 ) adapted to guide a drill bit (DB) driven by a drilling tool along said drilling axis, a guide hole ( 11 ) in said guide element, a locating pin ( 12 ) movable in said guide hole ( 11 ′) along a pin axis extending at an angle to said drilling axis, said locating pin ( 12 ′) being axially movable along said guide hole ( 11 ′) in said guide element to reach into said guide channel ( 11 ) for positioning a first structural component of said at least two structural components in a correct drilling position, said locating pin ( 12 ′) being also sufficiently moveable for moving out of said guide channel ( 11 ) and wherein said second clamping section ( 10 ) comprises a pressure member ( 15 ) and a clamping drive for pressing said pressure member ( 15 ) against a second structural component of said at least two structural components and against said first structural component to establish a clamped position for said at least two structural components. 
     
     
       2. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said guide element ( 11 ) comprises an adapter ( 20 ) secured to said first clamping section ( 9 ), in axial alignment with said drilling axis, said adapter comprising a locking device for locking said drilling tool to said first clamping section. 
     
     
       3. The clamping mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein said locking device of said adapter ( 20 ) is a chuck for locking said drilling tool to said first clamping section ( 9 ). 
     
     
       4. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping drive comprises a cam ( 13 A), an eccentric mounting ( 14 ) rotatably securing said cam ( 13 A) to said second clamping section ( 10 ) and a drive lever ( 13 ) secured to said cam for rotating said cam against said pressure member ( 15 ). 
     
     
       5. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping drive comprises a clamping screw ( 21 ) rotatably mounted in said second clamping section, said clamping screw having a free end forming said pressure member ( 15 ). 
     
     
       6. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping drive comprises a clamping push rod ( 22 ) slidably and rotatably mounted in said second clamping section and an operating lever ( 23 ) secured to one end of said clamping push rod, said clamping push rod having a free end forming said pressure member ( 15 ). 
     
     
       7. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping drive comprises a piston cylinder device mounted to said second clamping section, said piston cylinder device comprising a piston having a free end forming said pressure member ( 15 ). 
     
     
       8. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction device ( 17 ) communicating with said guide element ( 11 ) for sucking drill chips out of said guide element. 
     
     
       9. The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure member ( 15 ) comprises a free end for contacting said other structural component and a dead end bore or cavity ( 15 A) in said pressure member in axial alignment said guide element ( 11 ), said dead end bore opening into said free end of the pressure member wherein said free end of the pressure member, in a clamping position surrounds a structural component area through which a hole is being drilled and a drill bit tip can enter into said bore or cavity ( 15 A) when a hole drilling is completed.